running your own business

[General Cornwalls 0]

after a quick glance at your website I would offer one piece of feedback - you need LOADS more sample photos of people, preferably at the type of events you're trying to get business at (I'd assume weddings, christenings...?)

if I was in the market for a photographer and stumbled upon your site, I'd have no evidence you were up to the job and probably wouldn't investigate further

hope that's helpful; please ignore if not, as I'm trying to be constructive and not critical

Oh I know. I'm off to the city centre market tomorrow and the Earth fair on Saturday. Then on the 16th I'm off to the BBQ cook off. The 17th there's Thunder at Fort Jackson and the Celebrate Freedom Festival. That (and the weddings I've done) should get me a few more photos.

I'm hitting these events wearing my orange tee-shirt (which has my logo on it) as my other stuff won't be ready in time. I just ordered more corporate logo kit since it seems to go down well.

Edited May 8, 2008 by General Cornwalls

[Hannah+Vito 0]

i'm writing my business plan now. was gunna set up here originally anyway but then i met future hubby and all things changed now i'm still gunna do it but different location. in fact the uprooting of whole life might be a good excuse to accutally make the final jump instead of thinging about it.

thing is in my research about what i will have to do i found out that i may have to register as a llc. what im not clear about is do i have to wait for my ead ssn and greencard before i can start setting up my business or even register llc?

for those that have done this do you have any advice about what you can do, when ect?

i'll be located in los angeles by the way incase it matters.

[General Cornwalls 0]

i'm writing my business plan now. was gunna set up here originally anyway but then i met future hubby and all things changed now i'm still gunna do it but different location. in fact the uprooting of whole life might be a good excuse to accutally make the final jump instead of thinging about it.

thing is in my research about what i will have to do i found out that i may have to register as a llc. what im not clear about is do i have to wait for my ead ssn and greencard before i can start setting up my business or even register llc?

for those that have done this do you have any advice about what you can do, when ect?

i'll be located in los angeles by the way incase it matters.

A SSN is needed before you can do anything - it's the key to most things government.

For me, there was one website to go for everything - www.scbos.com (South Carolina Business Online Services) and I can do everything there - register, apply for licences, pay taxes etc.

For writing a business plan I found this site handy: http://www.canadabusiness.ca/ibp/eng/index.cfm. Sure - it's in Canada but I filled in the bits I could, ignored the bits I could not and now I know more where I was headed. Since then my goals have changed slightly but it's still a useful document to refer to.

[Hannah+Vito 0]

i'm writing my business plan now. was gunna set up here originally anyway but then i met future hubby and all things changed now i'm still gunna do it but different location. in fact the uprooting of whole life might be a good excuse to accutally make the final jump instead of thinging about it.

thing is in my research about what i will have to do i found out that i may have to register as a llc. what im not clear about is do i have to wait for my ead ssn and greencard before i can start setting up my business or even register llc?

for those that have done this do you have any advice about what you can do, when ect?

i'll be located in los angeles by the way incase it matters.

A SSN is needed before you can do anything - it's the key to most things government.

For me, there was one website to go for everything - www.scbos.com (South Carolina Business Online Services) and I can do everything there - register, apply for licences, pay taxes etc.

For writing a business plan I found this site handy: http://www.canadabusiness.ca/ibp/eng/index.cfm. Sure - it's in Canada but I filled in the bits I could, ignored the bits I could not and now I know more where I was headed. Since then my goals have changed slightly but it's still a useful document to refer to.

thanks for the speedy reply, in addition to the ssn, which from what i gather on her will be the quickest to get of all do i need ead card or greencard aswell?

thanks

Hannah

[General Cornwalls 0]

i'm writing my business plan now. was gunna set up here originally anyway but then i met future hubby and all things changed now i'm still gunna do it but different location. in fact the uprooting of whole life might be a good excuse to accutally make the final jump instead of thinging about it.

thing is in my research about what i will have to do i found out that i may have to register as a llc. what im not clear about is do i have to wait for my ead ssn and greencard before i can start setting up my business or even register llc?

for those that have done this do you have any advice about what you can do, when ect?

i'll be located in los angeles by the way incase it matters.

A SSN is needed before you can do anything - it's the key to most things government.

For me, there was one website to go for everything - www.scbos.com (South Carolina Business Online Services) and I can do everything there - register, apply for licences, pay taxes etc.

For writing a business plan I found this site handy: http://www.canadabusiness.ca/ibp/eng/index.cfm. Sure - it's in Canada but I filled in the bits I could, ignored the bits I could not and now I know more where I was headed. Since then my goals have changed slightly but it's still a useful document to refer to.

thanks for the speedy reply, in addition to the ssn, which from what i gather on her will be the quickest to get of all do i need ead card or greencard aswell?

thanks

Hannah

You need the permanent residence card before you can get a SSN.

[Krikit 1,165]

You need the permanent residence card before you can get a SSN.

Not if you're a K-1.

[Jeraly 4]

You need the permanent residence card before you can get a SSN.

Not if you're a K-1.

Thanks - I was beginning to panic!

StP - I am inclined to agree with you as well Although I am not sure the funeral ones would be appropriate!! And might be insensitive to ask permission to show on public webspace?

And I am going to check out that site now:D

Lastly - what is an LLC?!?!

[General Cornwalls 0]

You need the permanent residence card before you can get a SSN.

Not if you're a K-1.

Thanks - I was beginning to panic!

StP - I am inclined to agree with you as well Although I am not sure the funeral ones would be appropriate!! And might be insensitive to ask permission to show on public webspace?

And I am going to check out that site now:D

Lastly - what is an LLC?!?!

LLC = Limited liability company. Upside - your liability is limited. Downside - it costs $600 a year. I'm just DBA as it's $50 one-time only. When my clientbase increases I shall go LLC.

As far as corpse photos are concerned, they don't go onto the site. Tasteful funeral photos yes - funerals are after all, a celebration of somebody's life.

[Jeraly 4]

Hrmm - I haven't started looking at all the business acronyms yet - after all, I was going to teach But I am sure I will pick it up when I am there and go through it all properly

[General Cornwalls 0]

Hrmm - I haven't started looking at all the business acronyms yet - after all, I was going to teach But I am sure I will pick it up when I am there and go through it all properly

There's a lot to learn when you're here. You'll spend the first year or so wondering where all your favourite brands are etc and trying to find equivalents.

Then there's this ridiculous driving that goes on... I see some really suicidal lunatics on the roads. My tip - get something old and battered - that way any new damage won't notice. So far I've been rear-ended once - while stationary in a queue of traffic. I've almost been hit several times by dickheads driving and yacking on the mobile phones etc.

The big thing about business here is you have to have an accountant to do your books at the end of the year. The business year runs along the calender year - not April 1st to March 31st as in Britain. The downside is all prices seem to have to be shown without tax. Tax is then added at the point of sale.

[Jeraly 4]

Hrmm - I haven't started looking at all the business acronyms yet - after all, I was going to teach But I am sure I will pick it up when I am there and go through it all properly

There's a lot to learn when you're here. You'll spend the first year or so wondering where all your favourite brands are etc and trying to find equivalents.

Then there's this ridiculous driving that goes on... I see some really suicidal lunatics on the roads. My tip - get something old and battered - that way any new damage won't notice. So far I've been rear-ended once - while stationary in a queue of traffic. I've almost been hit several times by dickheads driving and yacking on the mobile phones etc.

The big thing about business here is you have to have an accountant to do your books at the end of the year. The business year runs along the calender year - not April 1st to March 31st as in Britain. The downside is all prices seem to have to be shown without tax. Tax is then added at the point of sale.

Oh I know - I've been out for months at a time and am well aware of the lack of marmite etc

Know about the driving as well... But I have never had a new car so an old shed won't bother me

Why do you have to have an accountant? Can't you do your own taxes? I'm not sure about all prices *having* to be shown without tax either... surely that would depend on the State you are in? Oregon for example includes its tax on the shelf price which is imho the most sensible thing!!

[General Cornwalls 0]

Oh I know - I've been out for months at a time and am well aware of the lack of marmite etc

Know about the driving as well... But I have never had a new car so an old shed won't bother me

Why do you have to have an accountant? Can't you do your own taxes? I'm not sure about all prices *having* to be shown without tax either... surely that would depend on the State you are in? Oregon for example includes its tax on the shelf price which is imho the most sensible thing!!

They do it that way here to make the prices look lower. Personally I dislike this.

We do have Marmite. I have a jar of it bought locally, in the US. I can even find Tetley and Twinings. I can't find Darjeeling tea though. The most exotic tea I can find is Earl Grey.

Taxes have to be filed through an accountant and the accountants know all the dodges by which you can pay less tax. For example, my wife's accountant knocked my business personal property tax bill in half by declaring everything under $200 is considered a consumable. Thus, my business personal property tax for where I live should come in at less than $10.

As my wife and I file jointly and she makes a hell of a lot of money and my business has yet to show a profit, the gear I bought comes off joint tax so we're doing quite well. She did try to persuade me to become her assistant but somehow I don't think I'd look good in fishnet stockings Not only that but since we love each other very deeply, I doubt much work would get done - lol

Edited May 9, 2008 by General Cornwalls

[SpiritAlight 1]

Bumpity bump!

Hello VJers,

I started a thread on this in the Canada forum and got so far, and now I need MORE.

Ha!

I went to the library and took out over a dozen books on LLCs, corporations (all types), and sole proprietorship.

Then I discovered all kinds of shtuff.

Like there are a few states that are really unfriendly to (small) businesses, and Illinois is one of them.

As is California, with their fees to start plus minimum $800/yr payments for the privilege of owning your own LLC.

Sigh...and I want to live there?

That is another topic.

So, I am thinking of a couple of things.

Questions:

1. I could start out as a DBA (home-based biz, sole-proprietor, cheap cheap cheap) and then see what to do next when business grows.

2. (tax question) If my sweetie (who is the big bread winner around here) and I file together with the illustrious IRS, and I am in the disadvantage of building my business here, and may be losing money the first year:

a. Can we file together if I am running my own company, no matter what type it is?

b. Will it be to his/our advantage to file together if I am in the clawing-my-way-to-cash-flow stage of the game?

3. Why pick an LLC over a corporation if one is in the service business (i.e. graphic design, marketing and/or film-making)?

4. Can one register their company in another state (where fees are significantly cheaper and no annual fees), and have their company be home-based in another state?

Has anyone done this?

5. (tax question) If I buy a new computer and/or software now before registering, can I keep my receipts to be deducted for when I have registered my company?

Okay, me thinks that is all.....for now.

My head is swimming in it.

Hee, hee.

Thanks for any and all guidance!